Hard-up tourists stole from stores

A German couple who stole from stores across the country claim they just ran out of money.

Carina Anna Buskies, 26, and Julius Philipp Hasch, 25, stashed some fruit and a packet of dried fruit in a backpack at the New World supermarket in Kaiko¯ura on February 1.

Hasch put a box of teabags in his pocket and Buskies put more items into the backpack, a police summary said.

The couple paid for two other grocery items at the checkout, and left without paying for the items in the backpack, or in Hasch’s pocket.

Two days later, the couple returned. They slipped a jar of peanut butter, a packet of dried fruit and a bottle of beer into Buskies’ backpack.

Hasch put some ginger in his pocket and went through the checkout without paying, while Buskies went to the bathroom.

Buskies then left the store without paying for the items in her backpack but a staff member followed her and asked to check inside her bag. They found the grocery items and called police.

Police also linked the couple to three other shoplifting incidents in Auckland and Gisborne.

Buskies and Hasch told police they took the items because they were running out of money, the summary said.

They both admitted three counts of shoplifting at the Blenheim District Court on Monday. Hasch’s lawyer Rob Harrison said the couple had both found jobs and were paying taxes in New Zealand.

‘‘They both now have fulltime employment. They can pay all of the reparation today.

‘‘They are remorseful and extremely embarrassed to be here.’’

‘‘It’s not as sinister as the court might think ... All the items taken were for them, to sustain themselves.’’

Buskies’ lawyer Laurie Murdoch said her client was ‘‘devastated’’ to be in court as she had no previous convictions in any country.

Judge Anthony Walsh said he took into account their letter of apology.

‘‘You’ve indicated your behaviour was basically sheer stupidity, and you didn’t think about the consequences of your actions. Well, you need to do that from today.’’

They were convicted and fined $300 each, and ordered to pay $396.11 in reparations.